• Arkansas driving laws limit who can drive.highway image by Ekaterina Sidorenko from Fotolia.com
  
  Federal and state governments have imposed several laws on driving to help keep roads and highways safe. Arkansas, like other states, has has specific laws for its registered drivers.
  
  

Legal Driving Ages

• Arkansas follows a graduated license program. Individuals who are 14 or older can receive a learner's license after passing written and road exams given by the Arkansas State Police. A learner's license only allows the driver to operate the vehicle when accompanied by someone over the age of 21.
  
  At age 16, drivers receive an intermediate license. This prohibits the driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. and limits passengers to one. A licensed driver over the age of 21 must be in the vehicle at all times for the first six months of an intermediate license.
  
  At age 18, the driver receives a standard driver's license with full rights.
  
  

Insurance Requirements

• All licensed drivers in Arkansas must carry valid minimum liability insurance. The minimum requires coverage of $50,000 per accident, $25,000 per bodily injury per person and $25,000 total for property damage. A driver must provide proof of insurance before renewing a license or register a vehicle in the state.
  
  

Cell Phone Use

• Arkansas has both limited and full bans on cell phone usage while driving. The law prohibits school bus drivers and drivers under the age of 18 from using any cell phone equipment while driving.
  
  Drivers between 18 and 20 years of age cannot use hand-held cell phones but may use headsets while driving.
  
  Text messaging while driving is banned for drivers of all age.
  
  

Drunk Driving

• The blood-alcohol limit for the state of Arkansas is .08 percent, or .02 percent for a minor. Violators face up to seven days in jail, one year of community service, a $1,000 fine and a six months suspension of their license. A judge may also choose to place an ignition interlock device in the vehicle after a first DWI offense.
  
  A driver who violates the law a second time may receive up to one year in prison, a $3,000 fine and license suspension of 24 months.
  
  A third DWI offense carries up to one year in prison, a $5,000 fine and a license suspension of 30 months. A fourth violation is a felony in Arkansas.